{"id":778962,"date":"2023-07-13T12:59:20","date_gmt":"2023-07-13T12:59:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pm360online.com\/?p=778962"},"modified":"2023-07-13T18:56:46","modified_gmt":"2023-07-13T18:56:46","slug":"addressing-the-polypharmacy-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pm360online.com\/addressing-the-polypharmacy-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Addressing the Polypharmacy Problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many of us have someone in our life\u2014a parent, a spouse, or loved one\u2014who has one or more chronic conditions. If one of those conditions is type 2 diabetes, that person may be taking seven prescription medications,1<\/sup> managing two or more additional chronic conditions,2<\/sup> and paying $13,000 per year on healthcare.3<\/sup> They are also 2.6 times more likely to be hospitalized versus people without diabetes. Unless you are this person\u2019s caretaker, you may not realize just how complex their condition is.<\/p>\n

Each prescription medication a patient takes is a responsibility, and when an individual is taking five or more medications, those responsibilities become a complicated puzzle of elements to manage, such as proper dosage, compliance and adherence, potential drug interactions, and the correct time and method for use. When you add in demographics such as the patient\u2019s financial status, trust in prescribers, motivation to prioritize personal health, emotional and mental well-being, and health literacy, the puzzle becomes even harder to solve. In the U.S., 40% of people have multiple chronic conditions4<\/sup> and that number is growing by 1% each year.5<\/sup> This links to 22% of U.S. adults aged 40-796<\/sup> and 42% of U.S. senior adults (aged 65+)7<\/sup> taking five or more prescription medications.<\/p>\n

Polypharmacy, which refers to the use of five or more medications to treat chronic conditions, has several elements that need to be addressed and solved for. Most importantly, there are two types of polypharmacy. First, a patient may be on the incorrect regimen, in which they are prescribed more medications than are necessary or medications that negatively interact. These situations must be urgently identified and adjusted to a proper treatment plan. Second, a patient may be on the right regimen, in which their five or more drugs are prescribed based on clinical evidence. In this scenario, it\u2019s important to prioritize patient education, access, and continued adherence. Both types of polypharmacy patients have an increased risk for adverse effects, with polypharmacy accounting for 30% of all hospital admissions.8<\/sup><\/p>\n

Adherence Drops Off as Patients Take More Medications<\/h3>\n

Adults taking just one prescription are likely able to conveniently manage their medication regimen. Adults taking five or more prescription drugs, however, may use multiple pharmacies or have 30-day refill cycles that don\u2019t line up\u2014requiring multiple visits to the pharmacy each month. Not only does this consume valuable time and effort, but it also increases the likelihood of medication errors and mismanagement. When it comes to starting, adhering to, and properly taking medication, some key statistics to know are:<\/p>\n